Republican Senate candidate Tim Sheehy spreads antisemitic image of Chuck Schumer

This story contains antisemitic imagery.

In a recent political ad, Montana Republican Senate candidate Tim Sheehy portrayed Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer with marionette puppet strings controlling money, a common antisemitic trope spread by the far right.

The ad also claims that Schumer is directing $55 million to Sheehy’s opponent, Sen. Jon Tester (D).

Chuck Schumer has made MT the #1 state to defend his favorite Liberal Jon Tester this November.

They’re pouring in over $55,000,000 against our campaign between now and Election Day! We need your help to stop Jon Tester and Chuck Schumer. Donate to Tim Sheehy for Montana today!

— Tim Sheehy (@SheehyforMT) April 1, 2024

The marionette puppet trope is common among right-wing outlets and personalities online and is used to pejoratively describe prominent Jewish figures like Schumer. The offensive conspiracy theory is rooted in a centuries-old stereotype that Jewish people are at the head of a secret cabal that controls society.

In 2023, former President Donald Trump’s campaign posted an image of billionaire George Soros using strings to control President Joe Biden, which drew the attention of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). In 2020, Fox News removed another image showing Soros manipulating events with puppet master strings after ethical complaints from the ADL.

A similar image was used by Minnesota Secretary of State candidate Kim Crockett to portray Soros controlling her opponent Steve Simon and claiming that a Jewish cabal was manipulating elections in the U.S. The Minnesota Republican Party Chair David Hann issued an apology on Crockett’s behalf, but she continued to spread the conspiracy.

Sheehy is a first-time candidate and the likely GOP nominee to face Tester in November. Since jumping into the election, Sheehy has criticized student loan forgiveness, rejected climate activism and advocated for the full privatization of health care in the U.S.